When I was very sick with AIDS, I felt
untouchable. For over three years, no one touched me or saw me naked,
except my doctor. Then a kind soul offered to give me a discount
massage. That massage changed my life. Just being touched by loving
hands made a huge difference in how I saw myself. At the same time, I
was in a drug trial that affected my sight so that I could no longer
drive, nor read. I was at a loss at what to do, when this same kind
soul suggested I become a massage therapist. I attended a weekend
workshop to put my toe in the water, so the speak, and that was all I
needed. By the end of that weekend, I had enrolled in massage school
and conceived the idea for Positive Being, providing donation-based
massage to people with HIV. We opened our massage clinic on Jan. 1,
2000.
The
weekend itself is a joy for me as an HIV man and a facilitator. I find
it an honor to witness these men come up the mountain with their body
shame and anxieties and leave exultant. Over the years, people who have
met through this workshop have coupled up, became friends, or just
stayed in touch. Sharing a profoundly transformative experience like
that creates a special kind of intimacy, like a brotherhood. That's why
I volunteer my time and why I love going.
One
of the things that seems simple, but struck me (in a good way) about
the workshop is how we all relate to each other - in a very
heart-centered way. You don't learn what people do for a living or if
they are on disability, or whether they rent or own, etc. There's no
chatter about real estate or software engineering. instead there's a
deep sharing from the heart about whatever going on for us at the
moment. After trying to mingle with singles, this kind of meeting was
such a relief - and a pleasure.
Exploring the Body Positive takes place on May 9-11, 2014 at Wildwood Retreat Center, near Guerneville. For information about the weekend or the scholarship fund, call Bill Stern at 415 821 6477
You can also find out more at: http://positivebeing.org/
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